Optimal alternative to the Rail Baltica section Kaunas-Vilnius has been approved
The Ministry of Transport and Communications has approved the optimal alternative to constructing a new Rail Baltica railway line from Kaunas to Vilnius. After intensive discussions with residents and communities of Vilnius, Kaunas and surrounding regions, as well as taking into account the European high-speed rail gauge standards, it was decided that the needs of all interested parties were best met by the so-called northern S5 alternative.
The organisers of the Rail Baltica project – joint venture partners UAB Sweco Lietuva (responsible partner) and DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH – developed four alternative routes this year, which could be used to build the Rail Baltica railway between Vilnius and Kaunas. The cost-benefit analysis carried out showed that the least negative consequences of the solutions for the natural, social and economic environment would be to implement the solutions of the engineering infrastructure development plan under the conceptual alternative S5, also known as the northern alternative S5. This European gauge railway will connect the cities of Lentvaris, Vievis and Kaišiadorys, which was not foreseen in other southern alternatives.
The Rail Baltica railway line will allow trains to run at speeds of up to 249 km/h. The aim is to make it possible to reach the country’s main cities, airports and the railway stations of Vilnius and Kaunas in the shortest possible time.
“Rail Baltica is a strategic and the largest infrastructure project not only in the history of Lithuania, but also in the history of all Baltic States, which will connect Lithuania with the European rail network. In order to realise the full potential of the European railway, we must not only maintain the high quality of the project, but also meet the expectations of society. Balancing all interests is a challenge, therefore, not only interinstitutional cooperation, but also dialogue with residents of Vilnius and Kaunas districts is very important,” says Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Loreta Maskaliovienė.
Since the northern alternative was chosen as the most optimal route for the Vilnius-Kaunas section, after public discussions, it is also planned to seek the most acceptable solutions for several specific areas during the next stage of the detailed solutions.
At a later stage of the works, specific areas, parcels of land and their parts will be chosen for the Rail Baltica railway line, which is planned to be made public in the second quarter of 2022. Owners and users of the parcels of land where the European gauge railway is planned, and the owners and users of the neighbouring parcels will be informed by registered letters.
The currently operated railway between Vilnius and Kaunas does not meet the requirements of Rail Baltica for train speed due to its geometry. Once Rail Baltica is implemented, communication speed between Vilnius and Kaunas will almost double and the trip will only take up to 38 minutes.
Rail Baltica is the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic States, which will build a fully electrified double-track European gauge railway connecting Warsaw, Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Riga, Pärnu and Tallinn. The total length of Rail Baltica in the Baltic States is 870 km, with 392 km in Lithuania, 265 km in Latvia and 213 km in Estonia.
Last updated: 30-12-2021
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